Nichola Lowe

Nichola Lowe is a Research Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her work focuses on institutional arrangements for inclusive economic development, particularly the role of practitioners in aligning growth and equity goals. She joined UNC in 2005 after earning her Ph.D. in Economic Development and Planning from MIT.

Her research spans three core areas: labor market institutions and skill utilization, innovation linked to local knowledge, and collaborative strategies among economic development actors to promote inclusive outcomes. Her forthcoming book, Putting Skill to Work: How to Create Good Jobs in Uncertain Times (MIT Press), explores how labor market institutions shape employer behavior and worker opportunities.

Lowe has consulted for organizations including the International Labour Organization, Inter-American Development Bank, and North Carolina Department of Commerce. She previously served as Interim Director of the Carolina Population Center (CURS). Her media contributions include analyses on regional inequality, pandemic responses, and manufacturing adaptation.

She is affiliated with the Department of City and Regional Planning and maintains an active presence through LinkedIn, a personal website, and Google Scholar. Contact: nlowe@unc.edu.